- The Governor General of Canada
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Pierre-André Fournier
Quebec, Quebec
Grant of Arms
March 15, 2007
Vol. V, p. 118
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Blazon
Arms
Vert two birch logs in cross Argent, on a chief Azure fimbriated Argent a mullet between two ears of wheat their stems in saltire Or;
Motto
HEUREUX LES PAUVRES;
Symbolism
Arms
The simple cross in the middle represents a cross made of two pieces of bark given to Bishop Fournier by a poor man when he was the parish priest in Saint-Roch, Quebec City. The cross is a source of inspiration and its white colour is a symbol of light. It is on a green background, symbolizing the natural environment of the Bois-Francs region, where Bishop Fournier was born. In the upper portion of the shield, the gold star on a blue background represents Mary, Mother of the Church. Bishop Fournier is an associate priest in the Madonna House community. The star is also a reminder that Bishop Fournier was ordained a bishop by John Paul II, whose motto was “Totus Tuus.” The golden chaffs of wheat symbolize the Eucharist and the Year of the Eucharist (2004-2005), during which Bishop Fournier received his episcopal ordination. The wheat is also an allusion to the Fournier name, which comes from the word “four” (oven) and once meant “bakers of bread.”
Motto
Meaning “Blessed are the poor”, this sentence is taken from Matt. 5:3;